A two-storey building under construction on Gospel Avenue, off Adesuwa Road, Oredo LGA, Benin City collapsed in the early hours of Thursday, sparking fresh concerns over building standards in Edo State.
Residents said the structure caved in at about 2:00 a.m to 2:15 a.m. Jonathan Bitrus, a resident, reported that he heard a loud bang before stepping out to find the entire building on the ground.
“No workers were on site when it happened. That’s the only reason we didn’t lose lives,” Bitrus said.
The Edo State Government moved quickly after the collapse. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Vincent Uwadiae, visited the site, condemned the use of substandard materials, and ordered the property sealed immediately.
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“This building was not approved. There is no application before the ministry. How can someone erect a two-storey building without obtaining the required approval?” Uwadiae asked. He added that preliminary inspection showed poor quality reinforcement rods that couldn’t support a structure of that size.
Uwadiae also said the owner is yet to be identified and is “nowhere to be found.” He warned that if the owner fails to appear, government will take over the property under extant laws.
The Managing Director of Edo State Development and Building Control Agency, Darlington Igabali, called it a “preventable disaster.” He said Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has “zero tolerance for irresponsible and substandard developments.”
This marks the second building collapse in Edo in less than a week. A two-storey church building undergoing renovation along Palace Road, Egor LGA, which also housed Faith Above Educational Academy, collapsed days earlier.
The state government has repeatedly warned developers to obtain building approvals before construction. Uwadiae urged residents to report suspicious projects in their neighborhoods to the ministry.
Investigations into the Gospel Avenue collapse are ongoing.
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